Abstract
Mice of the SJL/J and BALB/cByJ inbred strains are naturally resistant to street rabies virus (SRV) injected via the intraperitoneal route. To determine the cellular mechanism of resistance, monoclonal antibodies specific for CD4+ or CD8+ subsets of T cells were used to deplete the respective cell population in SRV-infected animals. Elimination of CD4+ T-helper cells abrogated the production of immunoglobulin G (IgG) neutralizing antibodies in response to rabies virus infection and reversed the resistant status of SJL/J and BALB/cByJ mice. In contrast, in vivo depletion of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells had no measurable effect on host resistance to SRV. These results indicate that serum neutralizing antibodies of the IgG class are a primary immunological mechanism of defense against rabies virus infection in this murine model of disease. CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, which have been shown to transfer protection in other rabies virus systems, appear to have no role in protecting mice against intraperitoneally injected SRV.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.